National Republican., 1887-09-23
The Late Archibald Campbell.

We live In such feverisb days--tne men Of
to-day crowding out the men OF yesterday
that we often overlook past services to the
nation. Energy Is to be commended when
expended In high and honorable calliugs,
hut that energy which forgets our nation's
yesterdays" and the men who rendered
service to that nation Is neither to be com
mended nor justified
We are painfully reminded OF this forget
fulness in the death Of the late Archibald
Campbell, who for SO many years was a
leading and honored citizen OF Washington,
and who for the greater sportion OF his life
filled so large space In public affairs.
Time was in Washington when the death OF
such man would be regarded as public
calamity, and all due honors paid to his
memory. Yet he passes to his last rest and
the 'men OF today know not that earth
is receiving the remains OF one who rem
dered great service to the republic, aud who
was honored by the esteem and friendship
of the leading men Of the past generation.
Mr., Campbell was The son OF Archibald
Campbell OF Albany, and was born In that
city in 1913. lie entered the Military
| Academy at West Point 10 1881, and gradu-
| ted I'm the class of 1885. Having been ap-
| pointed lieutenant of the 9th infantry he
| joined is regiment In the west, which was
soon thereafter ordered to the TcXln
frontier, where Gen. Gaines commanded
the United States forces, then acting as an
| army of observation. He was appointed by
| Gen Gaines one of his aides, in which ca
pacity he remained until his resignation
from the army. He was subsequently en-
gagged in the survey OF the Cherokee coun-
try, the improvements of the Ohio river, aud
in various other civil employments.
In 1S45 Gov. Marcy, then Secretary OF
War, appointed Mr.. Campbell his private
secretary, and, on the death OF Gen. Parker,
appointed him chief clerk of the War De-
partment. This Office he held for several
years and performed its duties with credit
and ability, acting on several occasions as
Secretary of War during the absence Of the
head Of the department.
In 1856 a commission was appointed by
the British government and that OF the
| United States to settle and mark out the
boundary line between their respective
countries, from the crest of the Rocky
mountains to the Pacific ocean. President
Pierce appointed Mr.. Campbell comnis
soner on the part Of the United States, Mr.
Marcy being then Secretary Of State Gen
Parke, then q lieutenant of engineers, wa
chief astronomer OF the survey. The flna
settlement of this boundIy led to a serious
and at one time, threatening controversy
| between the two CuuuGif9s. The island OF
San Juan, near the mouth of Puget Sound,
embracing an erea equal to that OF the state
Of Rhode Island, was the prize Involved ia
l
| great prospective value for agricultural and
commercial purposes, but was in q military
| point OF view OF incalculable importance.
The mastery defense OF our title to tht
Island by Mr.. Campbell, In his correspond
| epce with the British commissioners, aud IL
his reports to the State Department, wa
admitted to be largely instrumental 10 es
tablishing the rights OF this country to the
disputed territory, such right being finally
| confirmed be the enDeror OF Garmany t(
whom, as arbiter, the question was sub
mitted. For his services in this matter Mr.
| Campbell received the commendation o
bis government, as well as that Of Mr.
Bancroft, the minister at Berlin, who pre-
sented the case on the part OF the Unitet
States to the referee.
Several years later, It having been de
cided to complete the demarkation OF tn
boundary between the British do ninion
and the United States, another joint com
mission was ordered I this purpose, an,
President Grant selected Mr.. Campbell a
commissioner on the part OF this country
Mr.. Fish being then Secretary OF State. Tni
commission traced and marked out the boun
Diary on the forty ninth parallel of latitude, a
Woods to the crest OF the Rocky mountains
thus completing the entire boundary from
the lakes to the Pacific ocean.
For the last few years Mr.. Campbell ha
been in falling health, and has lived IN re
tirement at his home in Washington. Il
his domestic and private life he was pur
and affectionate, genial and generous, au
warm and true In his friendships. He wa
greatly beloved by his family and relatives
by the older officers of the army. and by
large circle Of friends. He married Mis-
Harrod, OF New Orleans, wlo. with hi
eon, Capt. Charles III. Campbell, and hi
daughter, Mrs. Charlton, survive him.